Beijing Woolly Monkey

Beijing Woolly Monkey

　　The Beijing Woolly Monkey is a unique folk art form native to old Beijing. This art combines the natural charm of monkeys with the creativity of artisans, resulting in a marvelous artistic realm.

　　In the early years of the Republic of China, there was a street vendor selling woolly monkey figurines at Dong’an Market. Since he had the surname Wang, people called him “Monkey Wang.” His stall would often be surrounded by a crowd. One young boy surnamed Cao was utterly fascinated, often lingering for hours, observing, taking notes, and asking questions. He secretly mastered the craft of making woolly monkey figurines and became the heir to this art form — the woolly monkey artist Cao Yijian.

　　So, what are these woolly monkeys made of? It turns out that all the materials used to create them come from traditional Chinese medicine. Their limbs are made from the discarded exoskeletons of cicadas, while their bodies are crafted from another medicinal ingredient — xinyi, also known as the flower bud of the magnolia tree. These buds form in autumn, covered with dense grayish-brown fuzz, which acts as a protective winter coat for the bud. As winter fades and spring arrives, the fuzz gradually falls away and the bud blossoms into a beautiful magnolia flower. The fuzzy bud bears a striking resemblance to the body of the woolly monkey — a truly ingenious use of natural material. The head of the woolly monkey is made from the head part of a cicada’s exoskeleton, perfectly complementing the fuzzy bud. Sometimes, the woolly monkey wears a bamboo hat, which is also derived from a medicinal herb called mutong. The adhesive used to bind these parts together is called baiji, yet another type of traditional Chinese medicine. Truly, every element comes from nature, skillfully employed in a natural and wonderful way. It seems that the creator of the woolly monkey was well-versed in traditional Chinese medicine and had close contact with medicinal herbs.